Suspect in Police Shootings Extradited to AZ

Suspect in police shootings extradited to AZ

(Phoenix, AZ—February 28, 2003) Miguel Herman Savala has been extradited to Arizona from Mexico to face three counts of attempted murder stemming from a shooting five and a half years ago.

The Arizona Attorney General’s Office, acting on a request from the Phoenix Police Department and the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, requested and secured Savala’s extradition. He was arrested in January of 2002 on the extradition arrest warrant and returned last night to Arizona. His bail has been set at $2 million.

The State alleges that on September 17, 1997, Savala shot two Phoenix Police Officers who were attempting to serve a warrant. The officers have recovered and have returned to duty. The State also alleges that two weeks before the officers were shot, Savala shot another individual at the same location.

Savala fled to Mexico after the shooting of the officers. The Arizona Attorney General’s Office and the Phoenix Police Department’s Homicide Unit Foreign Prosecution Team worked with Mexican authorities, which resulted in Savala’s arrest over a year ago and last night’s extradition. Savalawas incarcerated in Mexico until his return to Arizona.